Monthly Archives: July 2016

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been informed by the State of Florida that Zika virus infections in four people were likely caused by bites of local Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The cases are likely the first known occurrence of local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission in the continental United States. CDC is closely coordinating with Florida officials who are leading the ongoing investigations, and at the state’s request, sent a CDC medical epidemiologist to provide additional assistance.

Women could prevent contracting the mosquito-borne Zika virus while pregnant by timing the first months of pregnancy with seasonal declines in mosquito activity. The paper is the first to suggest that women in the countries affected by the Zika virus epidemic can still safely pursue motherhood.

Noninvasive prenatal screening using cell-free placental DNA circulating in maternal blood (NIPS) has been rapidly integrated into prenatal care since the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) released its 2013 Position Statement on its use. Now an updated position statement has been released.

Mosquitoes in the Aedes family can transmit not only the Zika virus, but also dengue and chikungunya. Travelers visiting regions affected by these diseases should take steps to protect themselves, warn experts.

A successful treatment has now been conducted for the fetal lung disorder Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformattion (CPAM), also known as Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (CCAM). By performing a series of prenatal and postnatal treatments, the infant was discharged from the hospital without subsequent complications. This series of treatments potentially provides another option for families with unborn babies with the same disorder.

For patients with pneumonia or ongoing influenza-like symptoms who live in or have visited the west or southwest United States, especially Arizona and central California, infectious diseases experts recommend physicians suspect valley fever, an often-overlooked fungal infection. Early diagnosis ensures the best management and reduces unneeded tests and treatment, note updated guidelines.

In research that could inform prophylactic treatment approaches for pregnant women at risk of Zika virus infection, investigators conducted experiments in mice and identified six Zika virus antibodies, including four that neutralize African, Asian and American strains of the mosquito-borne virus. The team also developed atomic-level X-ray crystal structure images showing four of the antibodies in complex with three distinct regions (epitopes) of a key Zika protein.

A study involving over 6,500 pregnant women from 6 countries in northern Europe highlights a clear need for appropriate support and advice when cesarean section (c-section) is elected for non-medical reasons, and for the accurate communication of the risk and benefits of c-section birth, suggests new research.

The short-term risk of developing cardiovascular disease following a first pregnancy is higher for women experiencing placental syndromes and poor pregnancy outcomes, a study reports. The researchers also found a five-fold increase in health care costs for women with placental syndromes who developed cardiovascular disease as soon as three to five years following delivery, compared to those who did not.